Road

Week seven of the British Cycling Sportive Training Plans for beginners and week two for intermediate and advanced riders starts on Monday - download yours today.

BEGINNERSThe seventh of 25 weeks of prescribed training sessions designed to get you to your first sportive in the best possible shape will up the intensity and introduces some all-out sprint efforts. Although sportive cycling is primarily an endurance activity, including some hard sprint efforts into your training is an excellent way of building cycling specific strength and power. You also get a break from the hills and instead put in some work developing your ability to ride strongly on the flat.

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCEDWeek two of the intermediate and advanced plans are a continuation of a foundation phase of training, suitable for riders of any discipline. Alongside prescribed rides in training zones, which include efforts at intensity, also include cross training and strength and conditioning sessions. It's also important to do some basic skills drills, such as passing bottles between riders and removing a jacket while on the move, which are featured in this weeks activities.

By following the plans, British Cycling members will benefit from the same expert knowhow that has propelled Britain to the top of World cycling.

Developed by British Cycling’s expert coaches and using sessions ridden by the top riders; it’s a structured, scientific and proven route to cycling success which, together with advice from British Cycling’s Insight Zone, forms a powerful cycling knowledgebase.

FOLLOW THE PLANBritish Cycling members can start following our training plans at any time – match the plans to the date of your event and your ability level and see your cycling improve.

If you’re new to cycling or it has been a while since you were last in the saddle, the British Cycling Sportive Training Plan for beginners is the ideal way for you to train for and complete up to a 60-mile sportive. Using heart rate to gauge intensity, you’ll always be training at the right level and ensuring you’re riding and recovering optimally to make maximum fitness gains.

If you’re an experienced sportive rider, looking to take your cycling to the next level and maybe start hitting some gold standards, the British Cycling Sportive intermediate and advanced training plans are for you. With a less prescriptive, user-driven four-week rolling structure, you get expert coaching and proven British Cycling training sessions, but it’s more flexible and easier to mould round your target events. Whether you train using heart rate or power, you can guarantee every pedal stroke will be propelling you effectively towards your cycling goals.

Beginner training plans introduces some all-out sprint efforts. Although sportive cycling is primarily an endurance activity, including some hard sprint efforts into your training is an excellent way of building cycling specific strength and power. You also get a break from the hills and instead put in some work developing your ability to ride strongly on the flat.